March 22, 2004

F.D.A. Seeks Suicide Caution for Ten Antidepressants

Many, if not most of the participants in the schizophrenia.com discussion groups take antidepressants.

According to this article:

"Patients on some popular antidepressants should be closely monitored for warning signs of suicide, the government warned Monday in asking the makers of 10 drugs to add the caution to their labels.

The drugs of concern are all newer-generation antidepressants: Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa, Remeron, Lexapro, Luvox, Serzone and Wellbutrin. Most are known to affect the brain chemical serotonin."

Note that this warning is not exclusively for children on these medications, but for adults as well.

Comments

The serotonin rush from Prozac made me want to ravish every good-looking young woman I saw when I was a senior in college. Perceived social/sexual failure made me twice as depressed as I'd been before, and, yes, this frustration led to serious contemplation of suicide. I also suffered the insomnia side effect. I think people should be aware of the dangers of manipulating serotonin levels in the brain. All emotions are amplified - negative as well as positive - when serotonin availability is enhanced. I had an awful experience with Geodon (antipsychotic) as well; I felt like a three-year-old again, and totally lost in my hometown. My education was virtually lost as I saw people of color as strange and wanted nothing but, again, to make love to young white women. I'd warn against vitamin D supplements, too, for an excess means temporary loss of concentration, memory, and intellect in general.